The Glorious Gam

More than a year ago, my office-mate Kevin introduced me to the world of Science Blogging. Behind the bit-thin veneer of a Google search lay a sprawling and vibrant community of scientists, educators, and communicators. A community I had been completely unaware. After a year on the inside, I’ve come to understand just how powerful these communities can be.

I found the Sea-Fever blog first, through the author’s twitter @petermello. His rapid and voracious accumulation of information regarding the sinking was truly impressive. Be sure to check out the interview with the Captain of the Concordia and a discussion on AMVER and EPIRBS – something all our vessels carry, yet we almost never think about.

That led me to AMVERS’s own blog, where they discuss all things related to the Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel Rescue System, one of the single most important developments in International sea safety. If you’re packing an EPIRB and have the vessel, you should be part of the AMVER safety network.

Wonderful collection of blogs. I had not heard about the Concordia sinking, so thanks for steering me towards this news. While in grad school I was a TA for a marine field course in Baja Mexico. We had one scary incident heading back to the station in small flat bottomed pangas as the winds kicked up coming down the mountains bordering our small town. We made it back just fine, but a couple year’s later a number of researchers (a PI and several students) drowned when their boats where flipped by high winds.
On a lighter note, it has been lots of fun to watch your blog over the past year. Do you still have your undergrad students shoot videos? I am having a class shoot 60 second science videos this semester and could use any advice you are willing to give.

Hi Mason, Thanks! This year I tried something new and had my students write their own grant proposals with their own original broader impact statements that they have to implement. I’ll post the results of those near the end of the semester.